US revokes S. Sudan’s Agoa rights
What you need to know:
- Two of the requirements are that a country “does not engage in activities that undermine US national security or foreign policy interests” and “does not engage in gross violations of internationally recognised human rights.”
The United States on Tuesday revoked South Sudan’s eligibility for a US preferential trade programme known as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa).
US President Barack Obama also removed Gambia from the programme and reinstated Guinea-Bissau. All the moves take effect on January 1.
A presidential proclamation announcing the actions did not specify the reasons for declaring South Sudan and the Gambia ineligible for Agoa benefits.
It instead referred to general standards for eligibility included in the law that established Agoa in 2000.
REQUIREMENTS
Two of the requirements are that a country “does not engage in activities that undermine US national security or foreign policy interests” and “does not engage in gross violations of internationally recognised human rights.”
The US has previously slapped sanctions on four South Sudan military leaders for their roles in a year-long civil war that has resulted in tens of thousands of civilian deaths.
Washington is also drafting a resolution in the United Nations Security Council that would impose international sanctions on South Sudanese found to be impeding settlement of the conflict.
Mr Obama’s action on Gambia appears to be a response to alleged human rights abuses.
